Eye test felt like a sales pitch?

[Pinkstuffs]

I’ve been a customer at Specsavers for about 25 years now and never really had issues with them but the last couple of eye tests I’ve had have felt purely like a sales exercise and I’m not sure if it’s just my local branch or if this is common now.

Before I even got started on the test i was offered to pay an extra £10 for an ‘enhanced’ check of my eyes which I did decline, but this was never a thing before. The actual eye test was super rushed and although my prescription had barely changed I was taken straight out to the shop floor to choose new glasses. In the past if my prescription hasn’t changed much the optician has advised me not to bother as I wear contact lenses 99% of the time. I have a very strong prescription and the optician didn’t even acknowledge that I need to put my contact lenses back in before trying in frames. When I said I didn’t actually want to buy glasses there and then I was given a big spiel about damaging eyesight etc which I found very pushy.

Im wondering if this experience is isolated to my store and if I should just switch branch or if anyone else has experienced similar? Last year when I had an eye test I remember experiencing similar.

The £10 MRI isn’t a new thing - they’ve been doing that for at least 5 years. I really appreciated it one year as the GP was being super unhelpful about getting me an MRI after an accident. The optician talked me through the scan results in detail and the reassurance was invaluable.

They've always been a bit pushy about contact lenses in my local store.

Not UK, but still Specsavers. Last time I went they told me I had markers for glaucoma & had to have a bunch of extra on the spot tests. Our medical system covers necessary eye tests, but they still make money from it! I scored 100%, btw.

I started attending a new, locally owned dentist & I'd chipped a tooth so they tried to sell me a hugely expensive custom mouthguard. Not pushy, but mentioned again at the end.

I find it sad we now have to treat some medical professionals like used car salespeople.

I now go to Boots for this reason. The optician there is always honest and will say if the prescription change is worth bothering with or not. They always say if you want new glasses you can but will also say when it's ok to stick with current pair.

I knew an optometrist who said never get your eye test done with Specsavers - said they rush the eye tests. He said it’s fine to get your specs from there though.
I had an awful experience with Specsavers when I tried contact lenses. Windowless basement room, 30 minute appointment, massive rush where I got hotter and hotter. I couldn’t take the lenses home because I couldn’t safely take them in and out. A long time later, I tried a small local chain. Hour appointment, very patient optometrist. Been wearing contact lenses and going to that opticians since too (it’s been 20 years!).

Depends on the branch. Some branches of Specsavers are great and some are awful. There's no consistency to it!

My SIL discovered she had a macular hole and that was only following a scan. I think the scan is well worth it as it can pick up something not seen in a regular eye test.

I’ve found them really good. I pay the £10. My prescription is really mild and I’ve been told I could manage without glasses by every optometrist I’ve seen, I find glasses help though and lessen headaches. My eyes are really light sensitive and I do find the anti glare helps with computer work.

I’ve also found them really good with kids . They will replace glasses for free no matter what craziness happens.

It was Specsavers who told me that the change to my private optician's prescription was so insignificant that it wouldn't be noticeable, certainly not worth new glasses. I changed to Specsavers for my eye tests from then on.

Specsavers is a franchise and as such you will find good and bad...the experience won't be the same at each branch, it's largely down to the owners style.

I don't find that in mine. They offered me the enhanced eye check last time but as soon as I explained I'd recently had a full annual eye scan at the hospital, they didn't persist, and they always tell me if the change in my prescription doesn't necessitate new specs. Also, they'll look for the cheapest deal using their various offers depending on what options I am choosing for my frames and lenses.

I’ve got a family history of macular degeneration so being able to have the scan which would pick up the signs is reassuring for me, although I’m still on the young side for it to be an issue. It’s the same scan my dad had at the eye hospital when he was being treated, although his was quite advance (he put off going to the opticians for about 10 years after a bad experience at Vision Express and by the time he finally went again the optician referred him straight to the eye hospital).

PSpecsavers have an arrangement that is akin to a franchise ( it’s called a joint venture partnership) - they don’t directly employ the staff, so you do get variations in how things are done between stores and some are probably more sales focused than others. I’ve never felt they were upselling, I’ve always got a cheap 2 for 1 frame and they’ve never tried to push me into something more expensive.

Same. A friend works at the eye unit at the hospital. She said never use spacsavers.
My old ndn got a job there at 18. A week later she was practicing tests . With little supervision. She quit as she said it was so bad.

It’s interesting to hear other perspectives and I think I will look at trying a different branch. I don’t really want to change opticians. One of the best things about Specsavers is that in almost 20 years on their lensmail scheme they have never increased the price, ever!

We stopped going to SS because of poor treatment. They were especially bad with DD as I’m guessing they don’t make much money on children. Rushed in and out and we suspect the prescription was wrong.

We moved to a Vision Express in another town and they’ve been amazing, really take their time with DD especially so they get all our custom now.

Yes, I believe they are a franchise though, so likely to do with the manager creating the targets!
I have recently found the dentists the same, trying to upsell everything and book me in for private work at an NHS practice.
I hate pushy sales tactics so I always say no, even if it’s something I was interested in.

I’ve always found them really good but the branch I go to is always so busy.

I think their sales staff must be on some form of commission, judging by their reaction when I explain I will be having my specs reglazed elsewhere, rather than buying a new pair. I've done this twice now and saved hundreds. Specsavers don't do reglazing; at least, this is what they have told me on the two occasions I've asked.

Nope. I always choose the £10 test because it checks the back of your eyes - why wouldn't you?

I have always been given the choice about whether to buy new glasses or stick to my old ones.

You must have been unlucky.

I don't think it's very professional to diss an entire chain of opticians. 🙄

I have been going to SpecSavers for x 20 years and the service has always been excellent. Not rushed at all. And my optician noticed a potentially serious problem with my eyes and I have since had surgery for it.

I had the exact same experience. Felt the upselling and the sales pitch were too much. Another assistant came after the eye test to take me to his desk where I had to listen to his (very poor) sales pitch. Invited to look at glasses but declined. I get a voucher from work but would definitely find somewhere else if I didn't.

I’ve always had a great experience with Specsavers. I’ve had lots of eye problems and they always squeeze me in that day and then make a referral to the eye hospital for that same day - the eye hospital won’t see you without a referral from optician or gp.

I always say straight away that I’m poor so looking at the cheapest options. I’m so over being embarrassed about it. Everone has always been great - no hard sell, no making me feel awkward, still happy to take their time and help me choose frames etc.

In fact, last time I got glasses I needed ones for distance and ones for close up for the first time (had only needed distance ones previously) and when I said I could only afford one pair they give me the other for free!

I paid for the £10 test and was very impressed that a necessary appointment was made for me only a fortnight later at the hospital eye clinic.

My eyesight was, and still is, very good. I'm still having checks and treatment at the hospital. I'm glad l paid the £10.
I wonder if the scanner for the test is expensive and that's why it is charged extra?

I think the £10 extra test is common. I have had it at Boots and a local small opticians.

It was worth it as it picked up something early.

Can't comment on SS as haven't used them for years. Can't actually remember why I stopped.

If you have a ‘very high prescription’ you would be unwise to decline a £10 OCT scan (which is very cheap for this kind of imaging). High myopes are at increased risk of a variety of retinal complications and an OCT will pick these up.

My Dad's eye consultant at the hospital recommended Specsavers for eye tests and spectacles. The enhanced eye scan is, to my mind, an essential given a family history of eye issues and when I had it last week was £5 extra. There is no pressure to have it, I just booked it online with my appointment. The technology they have now means they don't need to do a long test with you looking at loads of charts. They do offer upgrades when you are buying your glasses but a simple no thanks suffices. Specsavers also have a contract with the NHS where the do direct referral for cataract surgery.

I am all for supporting small local businesses but if an optician can't offer that level of eye health diagnostics, on top of just sight corrections/glasses I am not going.